Toy



June 15 1926. m L. J- ROUSSEAU TOY Filed Oct. 26, 1925 gwu c nkom 4x f n -e0 01.45.5401! Patented June 15, 1926.

UNITED srafrss LEO J. ROUSSEAU, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

TOY.

Application filed October 26, 1925. Serial No. 64,738.

This invention relates to toy velocipedes for the use of children, and has for its object to provide a'device which is very simple mechanically and therefore easy for a child to operate, and which is of a nature calculated to particularly appeal to children due toits mode of operation and use, and 1ts appearance.

More particularly the invention contemplates the providing of a preferably wheeled base structure with supports extending upwardly therefrom between which is fulcrumed a board adapted to rock and to form a seat at the rear end for the user, whereby such user may bounce vertically on the said seat, dow ward movement of which is effected against the action of a suitably arranged spring.

The invention still further aims to provide for the utilizing of such motion of the seat to effect the propelling of the device.

Still further objects subsidiary to or resulting from. the aforesaid objects, or from the construction or operation of the invention as it may be carried into effect, will be come apparent as the said invention is hereinafter further disclosed.

In carrying the invention into effect I may adopt a novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, having reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of a childs' toy embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a detail cross sectional view illustrating the attachment of the restraining spring to the seat board;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary elevation partly in section illustrating a modification of the invention, and Figure l is a transverse section of the same taken on the line i -4 Figure 3.

Similar characters of reference indicate similar parts in the several figures of the drawing.

The device includes a preferably wheeled base structure comprising a base board 1 provided with front and rear wheeled transverse members 2 and 3, the first of which is preferably pivotally attached to the base board and the member 3 fixedly attached thereto.

The base board 1 is provided with a pair of upstanding brackets or arms 4: located at some little distance from the forward end of the said base board, the upper ends of the said arms receiving a transverse rod 5 of the said supports 4- and is provided with a longitudinally extending groove 8 in the underslde thereof and transverse holes 9 through one or other of which a pin 10 may be passed to effect the securing of the upper end of a spring 11 to the forward end of the said seat board 6. The lower end of the said spring 11 is attached as by means of an eye-bolt 12 to the forward end of the base board 1. 13 are handle bars suitably mounted on the forward end of the seat board 6.

The invention in this form is especially suitable for very small children, as they may when seated upon the seat '7 simply bounce up and down, a motion which is quite easily effected due to the action of the spring 11 and which appeals to very young children but for older children I prefer to provide means whereby this motion may be utilized to effect the propelling of the device. This simply calls for the provision of a cranked axle 14 for the rear wheels, as shown in Figures 3 and 4t, the base board 1 having an opening 15 therein in this case through which opening extends a connecting rod 16 coupling the cranked axle with an eye-bolt or similar device 17 on the underside of the seat 7 It will be quite obvious that the vertical rocking of the seat board 6 may in this case effect the rotation of the rear wheels of the device and its consequent propulsion.

The device is preferably designed to simulate some animal or device, and in the present instance a certain resemblance to a rab bit is given to the toy so that to the childish mind the idea is conveyed that the described motion is similar to that of a runa ning rabbit.

It will also be readily apparent that the point of. connection of the upper end of the spring 11 to the board 6 relative to the fulcrum rod 5 may be varied according to the particular orifice 9 through which the pin 10 is passed. Thus increased resistance to the motion of the seat 7 may be oifered by simply moving the spring securing pin 10 towards the forward end of the said board 6 and the resistance reduced by moving the pin in the opposite direction.

This invention may be developed within the scope of the following claims withoutdeparting from the essential features of the said invention, and it is desired that the specification and drawing be read as merely illustrative and not in a limiting sense, except as necessitated by the prior art.

hat I claim is 1. In a device of the class described, a base structure, a seat board elevated above such structure and vertically swingable about a point intermediate of its length, a seat at One end'o'f said board, and a tension spring extending between the base structure and the forward end of said board, against the action of which spring said board may be rocked by a child seated thereon, said spring forming the sole means of yieldably maintaining said seat in a normally horizontal position whereby said seat board is permitted to extend rearwardly in an unobstructed manner from its V fulcrum point.

2. In a device according to claim 1, Wherein means are provided for adjusting the resistance offered by'said spring to the movement of said board.

'3. 111a device according toclaim 1, wherein means are provided for varying the point of attachment of the said spring to said board relative to the fulcrum of said board.

In testimony whereof Iafli'x'my signature.

LEO -J. ROUSSEAU. 

